The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-11-05
Elder Jones' Chestnut Mare.

Never before in Danville had excitement ran SC
high
As it did at the GentIeman's Driving Park on
the Fourth of last July;
Shouts went up and hats came of, and were thrown
high in the air,
AS Elder Jones of the M. f. Church won the race
with his chestnut mare.
Now, Elder Jones was minister, and gentle
man every way,
But he liked horse, and good one, too, and
could drive as we'll as pray.
The people of Danville knew full we'll, and the
deacons were we'll aware,
That the Elder was proud of the style and speed,
of his handsome chestnut mare.
They all knew that he enjoyed the sport, for his
honest, smiling face,
Was often seen at the driving park, when trot
was taking place;
"But that he should allow his mare to 90, in @
race" the deacons said,
"And worst of all to drive himself-he was plain
ly out of his head"
Now, this is the way it was brought about, that
the Elder allowed his marc,
To trot for the hundred dollar purse, at the green
race at the fare;
Ned Wilson, well-known horseman, was conf
dent she could win,
And persuaded the Elder to let him take the mare
and put her in.
The Elder had broken the mare himself, no other
to that time,
Had handled the little chestnut mare, or over he1
drawn line,
And when the call for the green race came there
were five that came to the stand
It was plain to be that the Elders mare
wasn't use to Ned Wilson's hand.
She would show beautiful burst of speed, then
break and run and pace,
And twas dollars to cents that the little mare
couldn't get place in the race.
The Elder seemed getting nervous, as he watched
Ned Wilson drive,
The heats already were trotted out, his mare the
last of the five;
When the call was made for the third heat, you
should have seen the people stare,
AS the Elder nimbly sprang on the seat, behind
his chestnut mare.
From the moment he touched the ribbons, she
seemed to just know her place.
And when and where to let out link, without q
skip or pace,
And the little mare won three straight heats, in
finest kind of STYLE
While over the face of Elder Jones, came the hap
piest kind of a smile
And then it was that the shouts went up and hats
flew in the air,
As Elder Jones, of the M. E. Church, won the race
with his chestnut mare;
But you should have seen the wrinkles and scowls
of the long faced, solemn set,
That were Mortified at the Elders course and in
secret session met.
Sides were taken for and against, and the mem
bers could not agree,
And the other churches they took it up, as well as
the old M. E.
1t was give and take with brothers, there was
shaking among their bones,
But the same good natured smile still cung to the
face of Elder Jones.
And when it was learned that the Elder, in his
modest, quiet way,
Had scattered his prize among the needy poor,
there wasn't so much to say;
And when next Sabboth morning dawned, and the
church BELLS pealing tones,
Proclaimed the honr of worship near, to the diff
ferent Danville homes.
Twas strange how the people seemed to flock to
the M. E. Church that day,
There wasn't vacant pew to be found when the
elder arose to pray
And the sermon he preached was clincher, he
touched on church socials and plays,
On lotteries and grab-bag amusements, that
churches allow nowadays.
And he said some belived they were hurtfu, and
others believed they were right,
Some liked the beautiful sunshine, others the
gloom or night;
To him the world was beautiful place, and he
loved its amusements and mirth,
And any enjoyment unfettered by all sin, were
blessings to us upon earth.
And he spoke in that easy, pleasant way, in such
earnest, honest tones,
That he won their hearts, and from that day, they
have sworn by Elder Jones;
Even the ng-faced, doeful crew, that never
seemed pleased before,
Have each been seen with smiling face, as they
opened the old church door.
They have learned that religion don't bar a man
from pleasant and innocent mirth,
And think some believe that man can be good,
and even have been upon earth;
And so in the villige of Danville, change has
taken place,
They have found the Elder no hypocrite, and they
like his honest face
And old and young greet him with smile, as oft
in the morning air,
Elder Jones of the M. E. Church, "fies" past with
his pretty chestnut mare.
EN-. Pierce an The Horseman.